UT baseball: Garrido shuffling pitchers at regional

AUSTIN — Texas coach Augie Garrido said “you don’t want to get too cute” when it comes to assigning pitchers according to matchups in the NCAA tournament. But after giving this weekend careful thought, he’s decided to toe the line between conventional wisdom and cuteness anyway.

Even though Jungmann and Green have been more dominant this season, Garrido said his pitching plans for the double-elimination regional at UFCU Disch-Falk field were about matchups.

Jungmann, Garrido said, is the Longhorns’ best option against second-seeded Rice, which probably represents UT’s stiffest competition at the regional. Green, meanwhile, is the Longhorns’ best pitcher at holding runners, and third-seeded Louisiana-Lafeyette features multiple base-stealing threats.

So because Workman is going to have to pitch in a big game sooner or later, Garrido elected to give him the opportunity right away.

“I think he’s our best choice for this (Rider) game,” Garrido said.

The rest of the weekend’s pitching plans aren’t in stone, but if UT plays Rice on Saturday — either in the winners’ or losers’ bracket — Jungmann likely will get the call. If the Longhorns play Louisiana-Lafayette, UT’s probable starter would be Green. Whichever of those two pitchers don’t start Saturday would then be in line to pitch on Sunday.

UT (46-11) faces fourth-seeded Rider on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Rice and Louisiana-Lafayette will play earlier in the day at 1 p.m.